Is there a quick way to determine if my power unit is providing sufficient flow/pressure?
You can quickly check to see if your power unit is providing adequate pressure. To do this: Turn the unit off, disconnect any supply and return hydraulic hoses from the unit, turn the HC Valve (hydraulic control valve) counterclockwise 1 turn, start the power unit and slowly turn the HC Valve clockwise until it stops. Read the pressure gauge. If the reading is normal (1800 to 2800 PSI depending on the model) the unit is probably OK. If the reading is low the hydraulic pump may be bad or the relief valve may be malfunctioning. Checking the output flow from the power unit will require using a flow meter. Another way to quickly determine if the hydraulic pump may be having problems is: While doing the pressure test shown above, let the unit run for about 2 minutes under pressure, then carefully touch the hydraulic pump to see if it getting very hot. Also listen for any strange sounds coming from the pump and watch the pressure gauge to see if the pressure is dropping off. These are all si
